First, know the detail. The world of foreign policy tends to be dominated by men, bores and pomposity (I plead guilty too). So your appointment is refreshing, but every pundit will be waiting for your first mistake: ‘What does Yvette Cooper know about foreign policy?’ as the rightwing Nile Gardiner sneered. You should be prepared for this, but there is also an opportunity here to contribute. For instance, the government has said it wants our troops back from Afghanistan, but hasn’t got a detailed strategy for achieving this.
Second, pick your issues. Although the world is now your oyster, I would suggest three areas to focus on. One way of fleshing out Miliband’s values-based foreign policy would be a greater focus on human rights, and intervening to prevent genocide. William Hague has said that ‘we will have to accustom ourselves to there being more situations which we dislike but cannot directly change.’ This kind of Conservative ‘appeasement’ could prove a useful dividing line.
A second is to remember that Britain has plenty of wind, waves and tide. Exploiting these energy sources is something the Tories talk about but haven’t committed to enough in policy initiatives or capital. Renewables created 330,000 jobs in Germany and a recent study showed Europe could shift to 100 per cent renewables by 2050. This will require Britain to work closely with our partners to join together solar potential in the south and wind in the north. Investment in emerging technologies like carbon capture is good for our economy as well as the environment.
Third, be statesmanlike. Ernest Bevin, Denis Healey, Jim Callaghan and Robin Cook are your forebears so you have big shoes to fill. While you will campaign poetically, a calm, prosaic tone will be needed at the inevitable moments of crisis. Little political advantage can be gained in opposition on foreign policy, though lots can be lost. Knowing when to support the British government rather than ‘ConDem’ them will win you respect and support in the long term.
Fourth, make friends. Labour needs allies; there are just a handful of socialist governments left in Europe. There is scope for us to lead fraternal parties in terms of campaign advice and new narratives. We can learn some lessons from the Democrats and the Australian Labor party on mobilisation, and from European parties on holding coalitions to account. Labour also has an ally in Brussels in Baroness Ashton, who is proving her detractors wrong with a calm and no-nonsense approach.
Finally, try to move on. The public agenda has moved on from Iraq, and so will the media in time. The global issues that confront us – from getting back to global growth, to conflicts over finite resources – will require vision and innovation. With some exceptions, there is a dearth of thinkers on the British left talking about global issues, as we focus almost exclusively on the deficit. We all have a job in the party to address that gap and put some flesh on the bones of ‘a foreign policy built on our values’.